PET/CT in oncology

PET/CT high definition is the latest generation technology of the innovative diagnostic procedure PET/CT, which has been mostly used in oncology. PET (Positrone Emission Tomography) recognizes tumor tissue because of an increased metabolism of the cancer cells. The CT (computer tomography) draws an exact anatomic 3D map of the body. The combination of both imaging procedures can distinctly localize the tumor. With the new PET/CT high definition the recordings are even more precise: a series of cross-sectional images in the region of submillimeter can facilitate the discovery of even the smallest filiae - a milestone for early diagnosis.

Advantages

PET/CT saves the patient a tiresome marathon of diagnoses, and in the most ideal cases surgery is conducted on suspicion. Diagnostic gaps can be avoided and therapies optimized through a fast and clear imaging. For the patient, the radiation exposure can be reduced by up to 30%. PET/CT is cost-efficient.

Studies

Comparing studies have shown, amongst others,

that the number of thorax surgeries, eg. following a suspected non-small cell carcinoma of the lung which showed to be unnecessary afterwards, could be halved;
that the accuracy of a PET examination for tumor spreading of the non-small cell carcinoma of the lung, colorectal carcinoma and other tumor entities is by far higher than that of an x-ray CT examination. The detection of recurrences emphasizes the advantage of PET even more;
that the management of patients can be changed in numerous cases of illnesses if PET results are available: in lung cancer, the change rate for example is up to almost 40 %, equally as in intestinal cancer, in pancreas cancer even up to almost 50 %;
that PET/CT saves costs because other cost-intensive diagnostic procedures and unnecessary treatments can be avoided.

Diagnostics

Data flow through increasement of spatial and temporal resolution of MRT und CT
Hybrid technique as a matter of principle
Differentiation benign/malign lesions
Staging

Therapy

Recognition of residual tumors
Quantitative determination of the therapeutic response
Identification of therapeutic target volumes

Current case study

Anamnesis and previous diagnosis
Condition after mamma carcinoma left-sided with ablatio, axilla revision (2 lymph nodules were afflicted as well as affiliated radiation and 1993 continued tamoxifen therapy. Currently, and for a considerable time, lasting progressive increase of tumor markers. Previous examination (CT, scintigraphy, sonography) without pathological finding.

Bone and lymph node metases at condition after left-sided mammacarcinom

CT cross- sectional images in sagittal (top left), transaxial (bottom left) and coronal (right) level

CT cross sectional image in sagittal (top left), transaxial (bottom left) and coronal (right) level with additional PET information